Shirley H Supporter Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

Clearly, Peter is declaring that he is deity! Several things lead to this conclusion. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Matthew 1:18-20. 

In Matthew 1:23, Jesus is called Immanuel, meaning "God with us." This title, in Greek, emphatically means "the Son of God, the living One."

And we read in John 20:27-29 later passages that describe Christ as God.

October 23 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Wheeless Supporter Music Minister and Sunday school teacher

Simon Peter had been traveling and ministering with Jesus, and certainly knew much about Him. He may have even known Jesus’ mother, Mary, who assuredly had a glorious story to tell about Jesus. But I believe Simon Peter had suspected Jesus as Messiah before he even met Him. Peter’s brother Andrew, before introducing them, told Peter he had found the Messiah. Jesus knew Simon’s name without introduction, then changed it to Peter, the Rock. Peter witnessed many miraculous things done by Jesus, including stopping a violent storm and allowing Peter to join him for a walk ON the Sea of Galilee. By the time Jesus asked Peter who he thought He was, Peter was positive he was addressing The Son of God.

October 23 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

When Peter answered, "You are the Christ," what did he mean? Matthew 16:16.

Verse 16: And Simon Peter, answering, said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Rotherham Bible.

Jesus confirmed that Peter's insight was a gift from God, stating, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven."

Verse 17: And Jesus answering said to him, "Happy art thou, Simon Bar-yona, because flesh and blood revealed it not unto thee, but my Father who is in the heavens." --Rotherham Bible

When Peter declared, "You are the Christ," he was acknowledging Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah promised in the Jewish scriptures. This was a powerful and monumental confession of faith, recognising that Jesus was not merely a prophet or a good teacher, but the divinely appointed saviour.

The use of the article "the" with the title "the Christ" is another way attention is sometimes drawn to the office held by Jesus. (Mt 16:16; Mr 14:61) 

The grammatical structure of the sentence, however, may be a factor determining whether the article is used or not, for says W. E. Vine: "Speaking generally, when the title [Christ] is the subject of a sentence it has the article; when it forms part of the predicate the article is absent."​—Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1981, Vol. 1, p. 190.

Peter was quick to respond. He put into clear, bold words the conclusion that had formed in the hearts of many there. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," he said. We can imagine Jesus giving Peter a smile of approval as He warmly commended him. Jesus reminded Peter that it was God​—not any man—​who had made this vital truth so plain to those with genuine faith. Peter had been enabled to discern one of the greatest truths God had yet revealed​—the identity of the long-promised Messiah, or Christ!

Interesting, while Peter's words were correct, his personal views were primarily shaped by these popular expectations. His understanding was based on a vision of an earthly king, not a suffering servant. This became clear just moments after his confession, when Jesus began to explain that he must suffer, be rejected, and die. Peter reacted by rebuking Jesus, prompting Jesus to call him "Satan" for thinking "not of the things of God, but the things of man".

​Conclusion:

Peter's confession was a pivotal moment of faith in which he correctly identified Jesus's role, but without fully grasping the divine, rather than political, nature of his mission. It marked the first time a disciple publicly declared Jesus as the Christ, setting the stage for the revelation of Jesus's true, redemptive purpose.

12 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report